OPEN LETTER FOR HON. MARIA LEONOR GERONA-ROBREDO

Subject: Plaza Quezon Building Project

Dear Honorable Mayor:

This is to express the common sentiment of the group called Mga Taga Kantong Putikon(see note 1) regarding the building that is undergoing construction at Plaza Quezon:

1. Broken Promise - Last year, in anticipation of the Peñafrancia fiesta celebration, we, the Bicolanos, particularly the Nagueños were made to believe by the Naga City government that on Plaza Quezon would rise a modern structure that would be completed before the 2025 Peñafrancia Fiesta celebration. To our frustration, without any justification, no structure has been completed.

2. No Progress Report - The entire area of Plaza Quezon has been fenced since construction started. Although there are signs of construction activities going on inside the fence, nobody seems to know how much work has already been accomplished. The Office of the City Engineer of Naga, which is supposed to monitor the progress of the work, cannot determine with certainty how much work has been accomplished. The contractor is not submitting construction progress reports.

3. No Billboard - For the information of the public, billboards are supposed to be posted within the vicinity of government project sites to provide important information about the project, such as the project name, contractor’s name, project cost, date started, target date of completion, and other relevant features that the public should know. This building, being a government project, should have that billboard, but none has been provided. The city engineer should impose upon the contractor to provide it as soon as possible.

4. Determine Actual Status - As concerned citizens of Naga City, we would like to know the current status of the project. Since no progress report is being submitted by the contractor and the Office of the City Engineer is not monitoring the progress of the work, we would like to conduct our own evaluation to determine the actual status of the project. To be able to accomplish this task, we request that we be allowed to conduct an inspection of the construction site and be provided with a copy of the construction contract consisting of the following supposedly public documents:

a) The signed construction contract between the contractor and the government of Naga City, including the conditions of the contract,

b) Construction drawings: structural, architectural, civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, etc.,

c) Detailed cost estimates,

d) Technical specifications,

e) Construction schedule.

f) Soil investigation report

g) Other relevant documents related to the project.

5. Capability of the Contractor - May we also be allowed to interview the contractor to be able to assess its capability and determine the factors that are causing the very unusual and unacceptable delay in the progress of the work. The citizens of Naga City should be assured that the project will be completed before the next Peñafrancia Fiesta celebration.

We hope the good mayor understands our eagerness to truly comprehend what is causing the unusual and unacceptable delays in the progress of the work. Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Wenfredo A. Firme

0908 557 9911

Member; Mga Taga Kantong Putikon

Note 1: Mga Taga Kantong Putikon is a group of concerned citizens: professionals, farmers, workers, fishermen, soldiers, etc. from Naga City and neighboring towns who frequently gather at a corner resto in SM to observe, monitor, and evaluate current events occurring unusually locally that are causing the citizenry serious concern. This group intends to call the attention of the concerned government authorities to take appropriate immediate action.